Today I am pleased my administration has
announced a new international initiative to help developing countries
stop illegal logging. Illegal logging destroys biodiversity and
hundreds of thousands of acres of forest habitat annually. It releases
millions of tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Last year, I
directed Secretary Powell to develop a plan to address
this serious issue. Today I thank him for his efforts in
establishing this initiative. Working with the private
sector, non-governmental organizations, and other nations, the United
States will help to identify and reduce threats to protected forest
areas and other high value conservation forests. These efforts will serve as a foundation for future actions to
eliminate illegal logging, corruption in the forest sector, and the
sale - including for export - of illegally harvested timber products.
They will also help us protect forests and the livelihoods that depend
upon them.